Learning how to lighten hair naturally is an easy way to get that blonde look. Moreover, it will help you save money that you might normally spend on a salon visit or hair coloring. If the natural way doesn't work, you can always purchase dyes and try them out at home. Here are some tips on how to get your hair looking a beautiful shade of blonde.

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Steps

Method 1 of 2: Natural Dyes

Sunshine

1

Get plenty of sun. Exposure to sunlight will lighten your hair, especially in the summertime. This is the reason many people claim that their hair color is darker in the winter, when there's less sunlight and people spend less time outdoors.

The more time you spend outside in the sunlight, the lighter your hair will turn.

If you plan on going swimming and spending time in the sun, get your hair wet in the pool first and then let it dry in the sun.

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Lemon juice

1

Use lemon juice, in moderation. Unfortunately, this will only work if your hair is already somewhat blonde. If you're a brunette, it will turn your hair a reddish-orange color.

Alternately, mix the juice of 1 lemon, 1 lime, and 1 orange, and run the mixture through your hair.

While lemon juice will naturally lighten your hair, it will also dry it out. Try mixing it with water to dilute it, and be sure to wash and condition your hair after you go outside.

2

You can also mix lemon juice with honey and beer. Not only is beer great for your hair, but it also lightens it. And because you mix the lemon juice with beer, it won't dry out your hair that much. All you need to do is take lemon juice from half a lemon, 3 tsp of honey, and mix it with beer (golden colored beer), until you have enough to cover your hair. Sit outside in the sun for about an hour, and then wash and condition your hair. Afterwards you can go back outside and let your hair dry in the sun. If you do this a couple of times, your hair will become much lighter, but will look natural. NOTE If you have red in your hair, you should be careful, because this mixture could make your hair a lot redder, even orange. This works best on natural blondes, who had lighter hair when they were little.

Hydrogen peroxide

1

Use hydrogen peroxide in moderation. This method is also inadvisable for brunettes, because it will give your hair an orange, brassy looking color. If you have blond hair already, though, and you want to bleach it a bit more, peroxide will work just fine!

Put a little bit of hydrogen peroxide in a dark spray bottle. Spray sparingly on the parts of your hair you want lighter. Alternately, wet a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide and brush cotton ball through hair for highlights. Most people leave the peroxide in their hair for about 40 minutes, but you can leave it in there longer for lighter hair. After allotted time, wash hair with cold water and condition hair afterward.

Cassia

You can buy cassia dye prepackaged at your local drugstore or supermarket.

You can also buy cassia powder and mix your own dye. Mix cassia powder with chamomile tea to form a paste. You can add different herbs for different results. Add cinnamon to give your hair faint red or auburn tones. Unbleached chamomile leaves can boost the blonde in the cassia mix. Powdered cloves can help mask the scent. Whatever combination you try, always perform a strand test before dyeing your hair.

Vinegar

1

Saturate your hair with white vinegar.

2

Let it dry in the sun for 30 to 60 minutes.

3

Wash out with conditioner. Use warm water.

4

Repeat frequently.

Mix of six

1

A mix of six. If you're a lighter brunette and want more of a bleached blonde look, consider this potent combination.

Apply to hair, and sit in the sun ideally from 11:30 AM to 2:45 PM. It works on blondes, too, but if you're a light brunette who's tired of reading about natural dyes that only work on blondes, try this, and don't be afraid of the rhubarb. After several tests we've determined that it doesn't turn your hair orange or urine-yellow.

Dirty blonde

1

For dirty blonde hair, use this old trick.

Start with 1/2 cup of lemon juice and mix it with 1/2 cup shampoo and then 1/2 cup of water in a bowl. (Sour cream will also act as a thickener if you don't wish to use shampoo.)

Get the mixture and put it in a spray bottle.

Evenly spray the solution on your hair once a day, before you go outside for best results. You only need to spray your hair until it is a little wet, not soaking.

Do this everyday until the solution runs out, and you will notice your hair getting brighter and blonder. Works like a charm!

Method 2 of 2: Chemical Dyes

1

Pick out your dye color. Obviously, it can be hard to get your hair looking exactly like the hair in the product picture, but use that as a frame of reference. Choose a color that you might be comfortable with if it were a couple shades lighter or a coupler shades darker, just to be safe.

2

Perform the required pre-dye routine. There are some tips on what to do pre-dye that might not show up on the dye package instructions. Here they are:

Don't wash your hair. It might not be ideal, but try to leave your hair unwashed for as long as possible before dyeing. Your hair builds up natural oils that will protect the follicles from damage. Shoot for three days of not washing.

Use Vaseline or petroleum jelly on your hairline to prevent staining. You don't want the outline of your forehead looking a different shade.

Use an old towel over your shoulders, preferably one that will never see the company of friends, lovers, or the public.

Enlist a friend or family member to help you. They'll be able to apply the dye more evenly, eliminating patches.

3

Follow the instructions on the package to the letter. Many people skim the directions or try to cheat by only leaving the dye in their hair for half of the recommended time if they want a darker shade. This doesn't work!

Dyes strip the hair of its natural pigments. Everyone's hair has blue, red, and yellow pigments, just in different concentrations. Blue is the first pigment to go when you dye your hair, then red, then yellow. If you don't leave the dye in long enough, you'll only strip blue and red pigments perhaps, and end with yellow hair. Follow the instructions on the product box to avoid ending with yellow hair!

4

Perform post-dye routine. This is just as important as the pre-dye routine. Make your hair look brilliant with these steps:

Use conditioner after dyeing to seal the hair follicles and reduce fading.

Use conditioner in your hair before jumping into the swimming pool. This will form a barrier between the chlorine and your hair.

Apply weekly coats of color seal gloss. This will keep the color in your hair looking vibrant and beautiful, and ensure that you won't have to dye it as often.

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Tips

Be careful using lemons because lemons have acid in them that can ruin your hair.

Before you do anything to your hair, think about it. You wouldn't want to make a mistake!

Don't slack off on hair lightening procedures in the fall and winter. There are plenty of recipes that work without sun, and if you don't use them you'll end with tons of work to do in the summer.

Swim regularly in the summer for at least 2 hours. The bleach in the water will make your hair brighter.

Do a test strand first, because you don't want to make a mistake and have to keep it.

If you are naturally blonde, then try to get a dark tan or light contacts and dark clothes to make your hair pop out.

Try wearing bright hair elastics. They will make your hair seem as if it is slightly brighter.

Don't let the lemon juice sit or it will stain your hair.

Warnings

Keep lemon juice and peroxide away from sensitive areas such as eyes.

Chemicals like lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide make your hair brighter, but may also dry out your hair, possibly leaving it brittle and damaged. If you do choose to use lemon juice or peroxide as a hair lightener, understand what the chemicals may do to your hair, and be sure to shampoo and condition your hair afterwards.